November 2013-thread 4- nattering our way through the first trimester

[honey86]

pow... here goes another

Animol I'm doing the test and I'm high risk because I'm 38. If the harmony test isn't £750, I'd have done that too.

That's it JB it wouldn't bother me either but I've seen the fallout & brides can give pregnant women a run for their money in the rational stakes. As you can choose any other day at all to announce people tend to sympathise with the bride.

i'd second what saundy said about weddings - my friend was an immense bridezilla who'd have freaked if someone had even THOUGHT about announcing a pregnancy! keep it to another day and then you'll be the proper centre of attention - as you deserve to be!

i feel anxious today - think its primarily about my horse. not really wanting to place myself at risk ever since i saw the wee arms waving about on the scan today yet i have to look after her properly. not sure what i'm going to do.....

Has anyone started looking at antenatal classes yet?? I was looking at some online and they say that early booking is essential as there are long waiting lists. I'm 11w, am I getting just a little too prematurely excited here?? Does anyone have experience of NCT classes? Are they worth the £200 price tag? Or the NHS one? (I work for the NHS so am slightly put off that one, I enter work through he crowds of heavily pregnant teenagers chuffing on fags next to the no smoking signs at the maternity entrance. I regularly see their partners collecting them and baby in cars with the music blaring!! Yes really!!) nothing against young mothers (slight backtracking in case I've offended anyone) but I don't want to be in a class next to people sniggering at the word boob!!

the midwife gave me a list of 3 classes that my hospital offer and said to think about joining one after the 20 week scan. but again it seems that different areas and trusts have different issues re: availability.

i'd like to do a breast feeding one but i'm not too worried about parent craft etc

boy it might be worth stepping onto the hyperemesis thread on the pregnancy board and asking about meds. they are really supportive. It might be worth considering taking the meds for just a few days until you can get on top of it. I found once I was able to keep food and in particular keep some drink down then you can rehydrate/ re-fuel and simply by re-hydrating that reduces the MS. It was amazing what the night on a rehydration drip did for me. So if it means you can get some decent liquids and foods down it might be worth it. I know the medicines refuse to guarantee they are safe in pregnancy but equally my GP explained the ones they prescribe have been used for pregnant women for a long time now and no one is aware of any problems caused by them. maybe call and ask to speak to the GP again if you are worried? I am the same as you at the minute, alright unless I move! but this is a distinct improvement from the weekend!

I've ended up telling quite a lot of people now, because I was so ill over the weekend and can't be in work etc. so have told some family, friends and close colleagues. It feels a bit scary because I am only 8 weeks (and have higher miscarriage risk), but I need support/ to explain why I am not in work so I didn't really have a choice in the end.

berry hopefully everything will be ok, it does sound quite common, but I can imagine it makes you anxious. When I told my GP I had some spotting (at 4 weeks) she said if I had any more I should speak to midwife/ GP, so not sure whether it's worth a phone call. they might be able to reassure you at least?

fairy do you have any friends who can exercise your horse for you? Just make sure you change your insurance if someone will be riding her.
misstweed I found the NCT classes brilliant. We've all stayed in touch and the babies are now two and there are a few of us on number two baby. It's great to meet people and good for your partner to get involved too. They're very into promoting breast feeding so do near that in mind if you aren't planning on doing it. Also, they really banged in about being able to move about while giving birth. I was strapped to the bed with monitors the whole time and it was fine!

I did the NHS classes, as the NCT ones were in a really awkward location at an awkward time. The breastfeeding one I went to was actually really helpful. The rest, to be honest, I didn't learn anything from really but that was because I was a geek had read every book/website going, they did cover everything quite sensibly though. It was good to meet other expectant parents and feel like other people were going through the same things. and yes, we did have to book in really early, I nearly missed the boat and I thought I was being quite organised!

I did both NCT and NHS antenatal classes when pg with DS. From my experience, the NCT classes are worth every single penny. Lots of information, lots of time for questions, and what I really liked, lots of effort to show the dads how to get involved. My class was nice and relaxing, and the teacher made an effort to tailor it as much as possible. However, the breastfeeding part of it wasn't too great, but that was really because of the bf councillor that taught it, she was rubbish.

But most importantly, the network of friends that you build in the NCT classes is invaluable - we are still friends 2 years on, meeting regularly, going on holidays together and helping each other out. For that alone I would say, do NCT, knowing people in the same situation as yourself is so immensely useful.

The NHS classes, on the other hand - cramped, too short (2x 2hrs where I live), hardly time for questions/discussions and no real opportunity to get to know the other people.

But that's just my experience!

MissTweed I have already signed up for the not classes (am 6.5 weeks although thought I was nearly 8 when I signed up!). I am such a control freak though! Have also signed up for a post natal course . My friend said its worth doing if its your first one cos you meet people in the same situation.

Ms has properly hit me this morning. I nearly threw up in the dogs food bin this morning! I have another scan on Friday as had a blood clot in Sunday. Nothing since so keeping fx that all is ok.

Glad to hear that some of you are coming out the other side of the ms.

One little am also going to do the nuchal scan as am 37. Defo going to look into the harmony test too.

Thanks Tired, I decided not to bother phoning doc, as they were absolutely useless when I was spotting 3 weeks ago - she basically just said 'Well you may well miscarry, it's very common'.

I had a MC last pregnancy, so obviously I'm concerned, and they did nothing to ease my concerns. I've decided if anything is going to go majorly wrong, there's nothing I can do about it, so to just hope for the best and try not to think about it!

I did the Nhs classes last time with dh - they were quite informative but you got no opportunity to properly speak with the other parents. I regret not trying the nct classes but tbh I didn't know about them! Are there classes for second time mums/dads?

harverina I think there are refresher courses, but I don't think I'll be doing them as DD is just 2yo.

Berry - that's exactly what they did with me. They have addressed the sickness - I think it's a 'hot topic' at the moment but she wasn't vaguely interested in any of my other, frankly rather worrying, symptoms. She basically said "well until 10-12 weeks we can't tell for definite anyway and if it happens before then, it happens"

So I'm sitting in bed fighting the sickness with growing cramps, decreasing boob pain - and a rather large sense of doom / helplessness.

Like you, I've had a mc. But I'd it's any reassurance I had lots of bright red spotting in my first pg & DS was just fine :)

Thanks Tired - that's really good to know. I will go and have a toddle over to Hyperemesis and see what some other sicky people have to say :)

I just wish I felt sure all this sickness was for something worthwhile - with the cramps etc I'm getting increasingly pessimistic. Were you totally fine minus the horrid sickness?

Hello all. I was on the second thread (i think) briefly and then droppped off but thought I'd pop my head round the door to see how you are all doing. there are so many of us!
Not properly caught up but very sorry to hear of all the departures
We have an early scan tomorrow and i am bricking it. I will be 8 weeks, I think.
Re: NCT - my nct classes were run by a lunatic (she was lovely but off her rocker) and we learnt nothing but it was worth every penny to meet the group of mums. We saw each other every week for the first few months and are still in touch now (though don't see each other as much as we're all back at work, with a couple of their second maternity leaves). It was a lifesaver to have that support group in the early days!
MS comes and goes in waves. I have found that I am eating constantly to try and stave it off... uh oh. I was back to my pre preg weight about 9 months after giving birth, without doing much, but even though I was the same weight my body shape changed completely which was odd!
Hope you have good days all x

boy, what a charming mw! Statistically the odds are firmly in your favour for a good outcome, even with a previous mc. Try not to fret too much (impossible to do I know) x

Thanks guys, I shall be signing myself up for the classes!! It'll be good to meet people as well as I don't really have ant friends in the same position.

Boy - it's frustrating! I know my own body and if I have serious concerns it would be nice to be taken seriously, or at least not have someone quite so harsh!

Thanks for the reassurance - I really hope you feel better soon.

We didn't bother with any classes, it didn't really seem my sort of thing and I couldn't of cared less about meeting other pregnant people tbh! But that's just me, guess they aren't for everyone. And hey, we managed just fine with dd.

Re: snappiness, I don't find I'm being agressive, but I really can't handle anything. Especially since dd's been ill, I just break down hysterically crying! I think dh thinks I've completely lost the plot. He's been kind enough not to mention it though! I definitely don't need help to feel crazy at the mo!

I've just looked and there are refresher courses that are 7.5 hours long. You can't take your little one with you. It concentrates on bringing another person into the family and family dynamics. I'm undecided if we'll do it or not.
Try and take things easy berry

Also, our bounty photos were really nice. The woman took loads of photos of DS until we were happy. MIL and I have both got a Perspex block photo which DS loves, it's in his room.
I'm glad we got them done as DS developed jaundice so looked like he'd had a bad St Tropez tan for quite a while.
It was expensive but the inlaws thankfully paid for it!

mumma is DD. not feeling any better? You must be exhausted

berry I'll join you in the spotting team. Just went to toilet and noticed there are brown spots in my pantyliner. And when I wipe, I get pink blood tinged mucus. I'm trying not to worry. I know there is nothing they could do.

boy and berry I am sorry they didn't take you seriously, especially if you have a past miscarriage.

boy (and sorry if this seems nosy) could the cramps be due to umm constipation? or just bowel spasms as being that sick just messes the whole system up? I mentioned some abdominal pain when I went to hospital and the Dr asked when I had last had a bowel movement and I couldn't even remember! she said to try over the counter laxative if it didn't ease on its own. the problem has now resolved itself and my lower abdominal cramps have gone. (don't feel the need to answer this if you don't want to, but thought I would say in case it can reassure you!).